Food & Drink
Read More ›
Has Starbucks Gone Too Far With the Zombie Frappuccino?
Dear God, is it... real?
Following the infamous Unicorn Frappuccino and the baffling Reserve Nitro Beef Jerky Cold Brew, Starbucks debuts today the Zombie Frappuccino, a creation that captures both the appearance and appeal of death.
In a fit of literalism, the frozen drink is designed to look like an undead figure. It features new “green caramel apple powder” blended with ice and the various base syrups at the heart of all fraps to form the body of the zombie—a mass of putrid, festering flesh. Just what you to get you over that mid-morning hump.
Half an inch from the rim, special “pink mocha drizzle” simulates blood that drips down into the sallow body from the “neck” of this Zombie, presumably where it was bitten and infected by another frappuccino. Above this rises the creature’s head, a great swirl of “pink brains whipped cream,” which probably tastes like regular whipped cream only Halloween-y.
The drink is outrageous, but it’s hardly a surprise. Starbucks has long capitalized on fall and the holiday season, relying on the yearly backlash and counter-backlash to pumpkin spice lattes, holiday cups, and whatever else people want to get mad online about that week. Like its predecessors, the drink is clearly made for Instagram, where the bold colors will pop, even if the questionable flavor combinations will be quickly forgotten.
The Zombie Frappuccino is available October 26-31 at participating Starbucks locations.
Follow Us
Restaurant Roundup: Literary Libations and Tequila on the Docks
Here’s what was served up recently in the Emerald City.
There are still three weeks until Thanksgiving, but the spread of offerings this year at Seattle-area hotels is already impressive. Whether you’re traveling in the city or simply don’t want to deal with dirty dishes, the cornucopia overfloweth. Enjoy a feast at the Four Seasons’ recently remodeled Goldfinch Tavern, or a three-course meal at The…
Best Coffee Shop: Drip Drip Coffeehouse
This women- owned and minority-operated coffee shop gained popularity for its Vietnamese-style coffee and matcha flights. The former is brewed with a phin—a Vietnamese coffee press in which hot water slowly drips through coffee grounds—yielding a bold, concentrated brew. Drip Drip’s phin-brewed coffee comes in sweet and savory flavors, including banana, salted egg yolk, coconut…
Best Brewery: Stoup Brewing
Like any good craft brewery, Stoup has a little chaos to it. Dogs tuck under tables, kids tear into snacks, food trucks hum in the background, and friends squeeze together at long tables. Husband-and-wife Brad Benson and Lara Zahaba opened the original Ballard brewery with their friend Robyn Schumacher in 2013, amid the neighborhood’s craft-brewery…
Best Bakery: Bakery Nouveau
If one pastry can explain Bakery Nouveau’s appeal, it’s the twice-baked almond croissant, dipped in simple syrup, filled with almond cream, and sent through the oven twice. Co-owner William Leaman, who has more than 35 years of experience in professional baking, was named one of the country’s Top 10 Next Generation Chocolatiers and captained a…